Japan  

Certainly minimalism.
Certainly minimalism.

I quite agree
The first Modernist, to my mind, was Christopher Dresser, and he was certainly inspired by Japan.

Minimalism seems a better...
Minimalism seems a better description...but not I'm not done with the Modernist tag yet...at least in the conventional application. Japan in the context we're talking about, was far far ahead of Europeans and later Americans. The same could be said of China (even the middle east) in regards to Technology.
Thanks for the name drop Robert. Did a little reading on his background.
For those interested here's a link.
http://www.designmuseum.org/design/christopher-dresser/

beautiful design
I just spent 3 weeks researching coffee pots, water kettles and tea pots.
Product sheet Pot / Cups
Architonic-ID: 4101509 Designer:
Christopher Dresser (1834-1904)
Manufacturer:
Watcombe Pottery, Torquay
Year: 1872

Guess
Walter Netsch owed something to Dresser's toast rack. . ?.
http://www.lottaliving.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=12467

Buddha, Jesus, and Mohammed all came along around the same time...
Humanity just seems to awaken to things with a certain amount of slightly staggered synchronicity.

pre post modern
???
Photoshopped with primary colors to jazz things up.

Modernism and Japan
Pls. see link below.
http://int.kateigaho.com/

The imperial villa Katsura
The imperial villa Katsura, near Kyoto, is often cited as an example of "historical modernity". European modernists like Taut or Gropius visited the place and were stunned by the modular grid and minimalist interiors.
I'm especially impressed by the chessboard-patterned walls, the vistas, and how the buildings correspond with the park.
It's worth to spend some time with a flickr-search on katsura - lots of eye-candy!
http://www.amazon.com/Katsura-Francesco-Dal-Co/dp/1904313590/ref=pd_bbs_...

Beautiful
The view across the pond looks like a view in a magazine spread on Larry Ellison of Oracle software's house in the Bay Area that I once saw. Sublime

Additional
Thanks! Some highlights for me from flickr....

Please do correct me if I'm w...
Please do correct me if I'm wrong!
Known trading started between Japan and the west in the late 1500's or so. It wasn't until the late 1860's that Japan opened it's doors more readily to foreigners and trade... With that in mind, and the prolific outpouring of Modernism in the late 1800's/turn of the century...it's hard not to notice possible cause/effect relationship. I say possible, since this mostly theoretical in my head and yet to fully delve into research.
Would it be safe to say Frank Lloyd Wright would not have accomplished what he did, when he did? Or in general, Modernism would not be what it is today..that's a pretty bold conjecture, but you begin to see my thinking on the matter.

To WoofWoof
Absolutely and unequivocally!

Checkboard
I think this pattern is quite ancient, and not exclusive of Japan...historically speaking. Often seen in tile mosaics streching across ancient empires in the middle east, italy, greece, egypt (?). Not to forget a variation of the pattern....harrlequin.
Perhaps the context of usesage? Certainly we can see the square rectangular patterns in other apsects of history. The Japanese presentation being unique.